Panel construction



Feb. 3, 1959 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 R. G. JVENKINS ET AL 2,871,935

PANEL CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS RADFORD G. Jenxms & DALE G.JEN| ms ATTORNEYS Feb. 3, 1959 Filed Aug. 10, 1955 R. G. JENKINS ET AL 2,871,935

PANEL CONSTRUCTION v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTORS RADFQRD G. JENKINS & DALE G.Jem ms Fb. 3, 1959 R. G. JENKINS ET AL 2, 7

PANEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 10, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS EADFORD G.JEm us & DALE G.JEN ms BY fif ggfw ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()1 PANEL CONSTRUCTION Radford G. Jenkins and Dale G. Jenkins, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application August 10, 1955, Serial No. 527,551

1 Claim. (Cl. 160-199) This invention relates to a panel structure, and more specifically, the invention pertains to a louvered panel construction.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a non-complex means for combining a plurality of slats of the Venetian blind type to form either a fixed or hinged relationship between adjacent pairs thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide actuating means for the hinged slatted panel referred to above.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a slatted panel of the type described together with traverse means whereby the panel may be used as a room divider, a drapery panel, as stage curtains, hospital cubicles, doors, closure members and other related devices. The panel is also useful as a rigid or semi-rigid partition member which may be perforated and/or louvered to form attractive panels.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object, the provision of a slatted panel which may be made of any desired material, color and slat shape, and the hinge means thereof may be made in ornamental and decorative patterns with the flexible tape thereof formed of various hues and weaves. I v

This invention proposes, as still another object thereof, the provision of a slatted panel which is non-complex in construction and operation, which, may be assembled and disassembled with facility, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention may become more evidentfrom a consideration of the following specification when read' in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a reverse side elevational view of a slatted.

panel constructed in accordance with the present 'invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal horizontal cross-sectional view taken through the slats, one tape and its associated clips of the panel shown in Figure l, and illustrating relative movement between adjacent slats.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the slat clips employed in constructing one type of slatted panel.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the remotely positioned end slat clips.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 5,5 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tape anchor clip.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of a tape slat clip.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal horizontal cross-sectional view of a panel constructed in accordance with this invention utilizing the clip of Figure 7, the panel being partially retracted to illustrate the hinging actuation thereof.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the panel shown in Figure 8, the panel having been moved to an extended position.

Figure 10 is ,an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional ice Patented Feb. 3, 1959 view taken on the horizontal plane of line Iii-10 of view through the slats, one tape and associated clips of the panel illustrated inFigure 14, and illustrating the hinged or pivotal movement between a pair of adjacent clips.

Figure 16 is a partial side elevational view of a panel employing the clip of Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a partial longitudinal horizontal crosssectional view taken through the slats, one tape and its associated clips as illustrated in Figure 12, and illustrating the pivotal movement between a pair of adjacent panels.

Figure 18 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional View illustrating the clip shown in Figure 13 connected with the remote slat of a louvered panel.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general, a slatted panel constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. In one of the forms herein illustrated, the panel 10 is seen to comprise a plurality of thin vertically elongated substantially rectangular slats l2 and an identically constructed and dimensioned end slat 12A. As is clearly seen in Figure 2, the slats 12, 12A are formed with a concave-convex configuration about their respective longitudinally extending axes.

Each of the slats 12, 12A are provided with a pair' of oppositely disposed longitudinally extending recesses 16, 18 extending inwardly from the sides thereof and adjacent their respective upper ends, and a similar pair of oppositely disposed recesses 20, 22 which extend inwardly from the sides thereof adjacent their respective lower ends. While but two tapes have been described and illustrated, it will be understood that any number may be utilized depending upon the size of the panel to eifect the smooth operation thereof.

A pair of elongated flexible tapes 28, 3%) are threaded transversely across the overlapped slats 12, 12A, the tape 28 extending across the upper recesses 16, 18 proximate the concave sides of the slats12, 12A. The tape 30 is threaded across the slats 12, 12A and recesses 20, 22 adjacent the lower ends thereof.

Those portions of the tapes 28, 30 which extend across the slats 12 are secured thereto by clips 32 illustrated in detail in Figure 3, and the clips 32 are each seen to comprise an elongated substantially rectangular central body portion 34 having an inwardly extending recess at each end thereof to provide the longitudinally projecting spaced and parallel pairs of arms 36, 38 and 40, 42. As will be seen in the drawings, the recess defined by the arms 36, 38 and the adjacent portion of the central body 34 is greater than the recess formed by the arms 40, 42 and their respective portion of the central body 34. The terminal ends of the arms 36, 38, 4-0 and 42 are reverted to form the clasps 36A, 38A, 40A and 42A. As is seen in Figures 2 and 3, the clips 32 have a concave-convex configuration.

Clips 32 are placed across the tapes 28 and 30 with the convex faces of the clips projecting toward the concave faces of the slats 12 and the latter are flexed about their respective longitudinal axes so that the clasps 36A,

38A, 40A and 42A enter the recesses 16, 1 8 and 22 and engage against the opposite side of their respective slat 12. One end of the tapes 28, is reverted around the central body portion.34.of the outermost of the clips 32 and these are fixedly secured, to the panelby a pair of clamps designated in generalby the reference numeral 56 and which will be described in detail below.

Clips 44, illustrated in Figure 4 are provided for the end slat 12A. Each clip 44 is seen to comprise a substantially rectangular central body portion 46 having an inwardly extending recess of substantially equal depth at each end thereof to form the pairs of spaced and substantially parallel arms 48, and 52, 54. The outer ends of these arms are reverted to form the clasps 43A,,50A', 52A and 54A.

As is seen in Figure l of the drawings, clips 44 extend transversely across the ends of the tapes 28, 30 which extend across the concave sides of the slat 12A. As before, the convex side of the clip 44'faces the concave sides of the slat 12A, and the slat 12A is then flexed about.

its longitudinal axis to cause the clasps 48A, 50A, 52A and 54A to enter the recesses 16, 18 and'20, 22 formed in the slat 12A. As in the previous case, the clasps engage about the convex side of their respective slat 12A.

The other ends of the tapes 28 and 30 are then folded about the central body portion 46 of the clip 44 and are locked in these positions by means of the substantially U-shaped spring clamps 56 referred to above.

Each of the spring clamps '56 is seen to comprise a pair of spaced arms 58, 60 connected adjacent one of their respective ends by bight portion 62. The arm 60 is seen to be inclined inwardly toward the arm 58, and the latter is provided with a plurality of tines 64 which project inwardly of the clamp 56 toward the arm 60- thereof. The clamps are slipped over the inverted and folded portions of the tapes so that tines 64 engage the tapes 28, 30 and are forced against the adjacent side of the central body portions 34, 46 tofrictionally engagethereagainst and to prevent inadvertent withdrawal of the tapes 28, 30 from the slats 12, 12A.

Each of the slats 12, 12A may be provided with an aperture 66 adjacent their respective upper ends, though only every other one is so illustrated in Figure l, and the apertures 66 are adapted to register with apertures 68 formed adjacent the upper edges of'the clips 32 and 44 positioned at the upper ends of the slats 12 and 12A, re spectively. through the apertures 66, 68 and through the eye 72 of a support member 74.

The support member 74 is substantially cylindricalin configuration and has a reduced intermediate neck portion 76 which is adapted to extend through a slot 78 formed in the lower side of a channel guide element 80.

As is seen in Figure l of the drawings, the support members 74 are connected with the slat 12A and with every second slat 12 therebeyond.

A panel slide member or carriage 82 is slidably supported within the channel guide element 80 and has depending therefrom a plurality of hanger members which support the antipenultimate and the ultimate slats 12 and 12A at one end of the panel 10. Longitudinal movement of the support element 74 at the other end of the channel member is prevented by means of hook arm 84 which engages around the neck portion 76 of this support member 74. A draw cord 86 is trained about a pair of pulleys 88, one only being shown, the pulleys 83 having their axles disposed in a substantially horizontal plane. The draw cord 86 is also trained about a second pulley 90 mounted on the other end of the panel member 80 and having its axle 92 disposed in a vertical plane. The opposite ends of the draw cord 86 are fixedly secured against relative movement to the carriage 82.

From the foregoing description of this invention, and with reference to the drawings, it will be understood that operation of the draw cord 86 will move the panel mem- An ovate hanger member 70 is threaded bers 12, 12A to their extended position as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, or, operation of' the draw cord 86 may effect the pivotal or hinged action between adjacent pairs of slats and the retraction thereof as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

it should also be apparent that the clip means provided for in the present invention makes possible the simple disconnection of any individual slat from the entire panel without necessitating itscomplete disassembly. This affords means for facilitating the maintenance of the panel 10.

It will be understood that the above described operating means is of conventional design and comprises, per se, no part of this invention.

Note should be taken at this point particularly to the relative positions of the adjacent pairs of clips 32 and 44. A panel so constructed insures that the closure thereof insures a tight panel and maintains the proper slat overlap and edge-to-edge fit. It should be also stressed that a feature of this panel assembly resides in the ease by which any of the component parts of the panel may be changed, that is, the slats, tapes or clips.

Referring now to Figure 7 of the drawings, reference numeral designates, in general, a tape clip constructed in accordance with another embodiment of this invention. The tape clip 100 is substantially identical to the clip illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings, and is seen to comprise an elongated substantially rectangular concave-convex central body portion 102 having an inwardly extending recess 104 at one end thereof to provide the longitudinally projecting, spaced and substantially parallel pair of side arms 106, 108, and the terminal ends of the arms 106, 108 are reverted to form a pair of clasps 110, 112, respectively. The other end of the clip 100 is inwardly cut to form a pair of longitudinally projecting, spaced and substantially parallel pair of side arms 114, 116, and these two are reverted to form the clasps 118, 120, respectively. In cutting the other end of the clip 100 the intermediate portion is retained to form a longitudinally extending neck 122 which, at its outer end, is provided with a pair of reverted clasps 124; 126 which extend at right angles with respect to the clasps 110, 112, 118 and 120.

The clips 100 are associated with slats 128 having configurations identical to the configurations of the slats 12 illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, and while only one tape 130 is shown in the partial panel structure of Figures 8 and 9, illustrating the application of the clips 100, it will be understood that as many tapes will be used as is necessary to facilitate'the operation of the panel.

After the tape 130 has beenthreaded through the slats 128 in the manner described above, the concave-convex slats 128 are flexed about their respective longitudinal axes so that the recessed longitudinal edges 131, 133 thereof may be engaged by the clasps 110, 112, 118, 120. As is seen in Figures 8 and 9, the tape 130 extends along the neck 122 and is threaded between the clasps 124, 126 which are then bent inwardly toward the neck 122 to tightly clamp the tape 130 therebetween. As is clearly illustrated in Figure 9, the recess 104 is deep enough to receive the neck 122 and the clasps 124, 126 of each adjacent pair of clips 100.

The hinging action or pivotal movement of a panel constructed with this type of clip is shown in Figure 8, and the panels constructed with this oflset type of clip have the distinctive feature of allowing a diffused light to pass around and between the slats when partially retracted while at the same time maintaining a high degree of non-visuality therethrough.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a panel assembly employ ing another modified tape clip designated, in general, by the reference numeral 132. The clip 132 is similar in construction with respect to the clip 44 and is seen to comprise a substantially rectangular concave-convex main body portion 134 having a pair of spaced, parallel elongated arms 136, 138 at one of its ends, and a second pair of spaced, longitudinally extending arms 140, 142' at the other of its ends. The arms 136, 138 are reverted at their outer ends to form clasps 144, 146 at the above-mentioned one end of the clip 132, and-the arms 140, 142 are also reverted to form the clasps 148 and 150, respectively. The concave-convex panels 152 are arranged in the aforementioned relationship and the tape 154 is threaded therethrough, and thereafter, the clips are mounted on the slats 152 with the tape extending between the pairs of clasps 144, 146 and 148, 150, and the clasps engaging within the recesses 155, 157. With the slats, tape and clips assembled as described above, the same contribute in making up a panel which is rigid or non-hinged.

Figures 12, 16 and 17 illustrate still another panel constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. In this assembly, reference numeral 156 designates, in general, a modified clip which comprises an elongated substantially rectangular concave-convex central body member 158 having a pair of elongated laterally projecting lugs 160, 162 adjacent one of its ends and a second pair of elongated laterally projecting pair of lugs 164, 166 disposed a greater distance inwardly from the adjacent other end thereof than the distance between thefirst pair of lugs and its adjacent end. The slats 168 forming the panel are unbuckled and are provided with a pair of slots 170, 172 adjacent one longitudinally extending side, and a second pair of slots 174, 176 positioned adjacent the other of their respective longitudinal sides. With the slats 168 arranged in the aforementioned overlapping assembly, the tape 178 is threaded therebetween and between the' slots 170, 172 and 174, 176. The clips 156 are placed over the tape 178 in such a manner that the lugs 160, 162 penetrate the slots 170, 172, and the lugs 164, 166 enter the slots 174, 176 and project beyond the convex sides of the slats 168. Thereafter, each pair of vertically spaced lugs are peened inwardly toward each other to tightly clamp the tape 178 against the concave sides of the slats 168. The resulting panel assembly is very similar to the panel assembly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. The difference between the two is essentially that the hooks or clasps shown in Figure 1 engage in recesses whereas in the present modification the lugs engage within the holes or slots formed in the slat. The latter construction offers the advantage of leaving the slat in the naturally formed, unbuckled state thereby giving a perfect edge-to-edge fit of adjacent slats.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings, a dual purpose clip comprising a still further modification of this invention is designated by the reference numeral 180. The clip 180 is formed with a concave-convex central body portion 182 which is provided with a pair of transversely extending slots 184, 186 which are longitudinally spaced from each other. Hanger openings 188, 190 extend transversely through the central body portion 182 intermediate the ends thereof. Each side of the central body portion 182 is provided with a longitudinal projection which is reverted to form a pair of clasps 192, 194 having a recess 196 therebetween. The other end of the main body portion 182 is recessed inwardly at 198 to form a pair of longitudinally extending arms 200, 202 which are reverted to form the clasps 204, 206, respectively. The slats 208 are constructed in a manner similar to the slats illustratedin Figure 1 of the drawings, and the slats 208 are arranged in the aforesaid manner.

A tape 210 is threaded between the adjacent panels and through the slots 184, 186 and projects between the clasps 192, 194 and 204. 206. After the threading operation has been completed, the slats 208 are sprung into the clasps 192, 194, 204 and 206 at the recesses 2.09, 211 in the manner described. The distinction which is made between the clip 180 and the clip 32 resides in the I addition of the slots 184, 186. By threading the tape 210 in and out through these slots, the clips become fixed to 6 the tape and cannot be removed simply by removing the slat as in the panel constructed in the manner shown in Figure 1. This feature is valuable however where the assembled panel is subject to abuse.

The clip shown in Figure 13 is also adapted for use as an end clip on the remotely positioned slat of the panel. As is shown in Figure 15 the clip on the remotely positioned slat 180A is threaded by passing the tape 210 inwardly through the recess 196 and across the convex side of the clip 180, and thereafter, outwardly through the slot 186 at which point the tape 210 is reversed in direction through the recess 198 and is extended to overlap a portion of the tape which lies adjacent the central body portion 182 and cut off. The slat 180A is then flexed into position as described above to clamp the free end of the tape 210.

The clip illustrated in Figure 13 could also be employed as an end clip on a panel constructed in a manner illustrated in Figure 1 (see Figure 18). In this instance, one of the tapes, 28 for example, extends inwardly through the recess 196 and spans the convex side of the clip 180 to pass through the slot 184. The tape is then bent to enter the recess 198, and the free end of the tape is then reversed across the convex side of the clip and is fixedly secured by flexing its associated panel 12A into the clasps 192, 194 and 204, 206, the concave side thereof cooperating with the convex side of the clip whereby the end of the tape 28 is fixedly clamped therebetween. It will be recognized, of course, that the panels, in the last two examples described, completely cover the end portions of the tapes 210 and 28.

Having described and illustrated a number of slat clips, it will be understood that the same have been ofiered merely by way of example, and that the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

An expansible and retractable louvered panel comprising a plurality of elongated substantially rectangular louvers having a concave-convex transverse configuration, said louvers being arranged with the concave side of alternate louvers facing the concave side of adjacent louvers and having the adjacent marginal longitudinal edges of each pair of louvers disposed in overlapping relation, an elongated tape extending across said louvers adjacent each end thereof and threaded between opposite sides of each of said louvers, said tape extending across the concave side of each of said louvers, each of said louvers having recesses formed in the opposite vertical edges thereof extending from a point above said tape to a point below said tape, clips having means thereon engaging opposite side edges of said louvers for binding s'aid tapes loosely against each of said louvers so that said louvers may be readily adjusted laterally on said tapes, said clips extending transversely across the concave side of each of said louvers with the edge engaging means thereon engaged in said recess, the free ends of each of said tapes being reverted'around the central body portion of an adjacent terminal clip, means for retaining said reverted end portions in their respective positions, and means suspending said louvers in vertically aligned position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,162,226 McKinney June 13, 1939 2,509,677 Edmonds May 30, 1950 2,623,581 Nelson Dec. 30, 1952 2,678,688 Dragon May 18, 1954 2,728,389 Simon Dec. 27, 1955 2,756,816 Radel et al July 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,109 Great Britain 1898 

